Beet-topper.



A. H. KRAMER,

BEE] TOPPfR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. me.

Snow/ 1oz A.Ellumer,

Patented J 111 31, 1917. 34SHEETS-SHE ET 1.

A. H. KRAMER.

BEE? TOPPER.

APPLICATION man WW :4, 191a.

1,235A90. I Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gmwwkoz Afifframer,

A. H. KRAMER.

BEET TOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I4. 1916.

Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5% QAW Swuemtoz ALLINGTGN H. 3F AURQRA, CQLGBAIDQ.

BEET=TOPLPER.

Epecification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 31, 191?.

Application filed July it, 1916. Serial Ito. 109,340.

This invention relates to beet toppers and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple and durable structure having means for removing the tops from t--e beets while they are in position in the ground, there also being means provided for directing the foliage leaves of the beet tops toward the means which sever the tops from the bodies of the beets.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the character'indicated a pivotally mounted frame for carrying the, beet topper and the foliage engaging means so that the said topper and the said means may ride vertically as the machine is drawn over the round and thus the tops will be removed from the beets at uniform distances from the upper ends of the beets.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with topper of the character indicated a fender plate or blade adapted to cast the beet tops to one side whereby they will deposit in a row as the machine is drawn along the ground.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the beet topper.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of parts showing adjacent parts in section.

The beet topper comprises a frame 1 which is mounted at its rear portion upon an axle 2 having traction wheels 3 mounted at the ends thereof in the usual manner. A draft clevis 4 is adjustably mounted at the forward end of the frame 1 and any suitable draft appliance may be carried by the said clevis. A shaft 5 is journaled for rotation at the forward portion ofthe frame 1 and 1 sprocket wheel 6 is mounted at one end of the said shaft. A sprocket wheel 7 1s moznted upon the axle 2 and a sprocket ch ir 8 is trained around, the sprocket wllceis 6 and T and is adapted to transmit rotary movement from the axle 2 to the shaft 5. The forward portion of the frame 1 is mounted upon a pivoted truck 9 and a lever mechanism 10 isprovided upon the forward portion of the frame 1 for raising and lowering the said frame with relation to the truck 9.

The side bars of a supplemental frame 11 are pivots lly connected with the shaft 5 and the forward ends of the said side bars are extended in advance of the said shaft and carry a weight 12 which is adjustably mounted upon the said supplemental frame. A cross bar 13 is carried at the rear end of the supplemental frame 11 and a shaft 14 is j ournaled for rotation in the said cross bar. The shaft 14 carries at its lower end .a concavecl disk 15 which is arranged to rotate in a plane at an acute angle to a horizontal. The said disk 15 is forwardly and downwardly inclined so that its forward edge portion is at a lower elevation or level than the-side and rear portions of its edge. Brackets 16 are mounted upon the rear por tion of the frame 11 and a shaft 17 is journaled for rotation upon the said brackets. The shaft 17 carries a beveled gear wheel 18 which meshes with a similar gear wheel 19 mounted upon the shaft 14:. A sprocket wheel '20 ismounted upon the shaft 17 and a sprocket wheel 21 is mounted upon the shaft 5. A sprocket chain 22 is trained around the sprocket wheels 2!: and 21 and is adapted to transmit rotary movementfrom the shaft 5 to the shaft 17. Through the intermeshing gear wheels 18 and 19 rotary movement is transmitted from the shaft 17 to the shaft 14: whereby the disk 15 is rotated when the machine is in opera tion.

A vertically disposed sleeve 23 is mounted upon the frame 1 and a rod 2% is slidablv mounted in the said sleeve. The lower end of the rod 24 is pivotally connected with the intermediate portion of the frame 11. A. coil spring 25 is interposed between the lower end of the sleeve 23 and the frame 11 and the said spring 25 is under tension with a tendency to resiliently hold the rear portion of the frame 11 in a lowered posi: tion. A lever 26 is fulcrumed upon the frame 1. A chain 27 connects the forward end of the lever 26 with the intermediate portion of the frame 11'. Therefore it will be seen that the rear portion of the frame 11 is held in a lowered position under the tension of the sprin but when the at tachment carried by t e fra e 11 comes in contact elevated places in the ground or soil the portion of the frame 11 may swing in an upward direction whereby the beet topping means are carried over the said elevated places.

Bars 28 are adjustably connected at their upper ends with the intermediate portions ofthe side of sine a and oars 29 are similarly connected with the side bars or the frame 11. shaft 30 is journaled for L .at the lower ends of the bars 28 a carries roller 31. The said 01 is pro-i ied at its periphery with the hd lie tween the end portions of the ""iphery of the roller" 31 and the adjacen portion of the disk 15 and serve as me I e heet tops to the p: dies in and also serve as n the roller 31 in proper position upon t heee tops the roller is passing over i; re

beets in the ground, The roiler 81 rotates 1 ,r at sligntiy increased rate oi speed than "that-at which the machine moves in a forufatd direction, consequently as the roller 31 enooiint thedi'sk which follows the roller 31 may encounter the tops and sever the same from the bodies of-the beets. The weight 12 car- .I'lQd at the forward portion of the i'rame 11 ounter-balances the rear portion or the said frame and the pads carried thereby.

Arms 38 are pivotally connected at their forward ends with the shaft 5 and the said arms at their rear ends carry digging shares 1 89. A shaft 40 is ournaled for rotation at the rear ends of the arms 38 and carries a sprocket wheel tl. A sprocket'wheel 42 is mounted upon the shaft 5 and a sprocket chain 43 is trained around the sprocket wheels 41 and 42 and is adapted to transmit rotary movement from the shaft 5 to the shaft h). Soil shakers 44 are mounted for reciprocatory movement behind the digging shares 39 and levers 45 are fulcrumed from supports depending from the arms 38. The

upper ends "of the levers 45 are connected with cranks provided upon the shaft 10 and the lower ends of the said levers are op- 's ively connected with soii shakers re the best tops the said roller. ypa'ssesithero 1n a backward direction sothat The operation of the beet topping machine is as followsz-As the machine is being drawn over the surface of the ground the roller 31 encounters the beet tops and the lugs 32 carried by the said roller move the foliage of the beets in a rearward direction between the fenders 36. The inner edge portions of the fenders 36 direct any of the beet tops with which they come in contact toward the periphery of the disk 15. As the machine is being drawn over the surface of the ground the disk 15 is rotated as hereinbefore described and as the periphcry of the said disk comes in contact with the beet tops the tops are severed from the bodies of the beets and the tops fall upon the upper surface of the disk 15.. A fender plate 46 is mounted upon the frame 11 above the upper surface of the disk 15 and to one side of the center thereof and as the beet tops come in contact with the said fender plate they are scraped from the upper surface or" the disk and are deposited in a row upon the surface of the ground.

After the tops have been removed from the bodies of the disks as hereinbefore de scribed, the digging shares 39 pass under the body portions of the beets and the said beets are lifted by the shares from the soil. At the same time the soil shaking elements are reciprocated and the beets are subjected to an agitation which loosens any soil which might adhere to them and this oil falls back in the furrows which have .1311 opened by the shares 39 while the beets are permitted fall from the rear ends of the digging shares and deposit upon the surface of the soil.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that a beet topper of simple and durable structure is provided and that the same includes an element for removing the tops from the bodies of the beets while the beets are in position in the ground also means for disposing the foliage of the beets toward the said topping means and fenders for regulating the depth at which the topping means Will operate in the ground and also for directing the foliage toward the said topping means.

Having described the inventionwhat is claimed is 1. A beet topper comprising a frame, a disk journaled for rotation thereon, a roller journaled for rotation in advance of the disk, means for rotating the disk, means for rotating the roller and fender blades positioned at the ends of the roller and having rear portions disposed between the periphery of the roller and the periphery of the disk.

2. A beet topper comprising a disk journaled for rotation, means for rotating the disk, a roller journaled for rotation in adwee eee venee of the disk, means for rotating the re-tier, fender blades located at the ends of In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLINGTON H. KRAMER.

. Witnesses:

J. H. HAmmroN, W. A. GUNKLE. 

